708HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.

CHAPTER XII.

GREENE TOWNSHIP.

[township sketch not yet transcribed...]

 

712HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
BIOGRAHICAL.
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ARCHBOLD, BARTHOLOMEW—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6, P.O. Lytle City. Was born in County Dublin, Ireland, in the year 1829. Lived there almost twenty-two years and in 1851 emigrated to America and located on the farm on which he now lives. His elder brother

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Peter and his younger sister Ann came to America with him. Peter died November 15, 1860. Ann still continues to lives with her brother Bartholomew and is his housekeeper. When they came to Iowa they had but little means, but now, by their industry and thrift, they have secured a fine home of 217 acres of land under a fair state of cultivation and well stocked. Mr. Archbold never had a lawsuit nor heard a trial in all his life. He lives a peaceful, quiet life, never having trouble with any one, and is spoken of as a kind and obliging neighbor. Although starting with but little, this brother and sister are now in a position to spend their days comfortably. He has seventy head of hogs, eleven head of horses and thirty-two head of cattle.

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BAIR, DAVID—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1, P.O. Windham, Johnson county. Born in Harrison county, Ohio, November 29, 1819. Lived there until six years of age, then moved to Holmes county, Ohio. He learned the blacksmith trade at Millersburg, and then traveled as a journeyman blacksmith in western Ohio and southwestern Indiana. In the fall of 1840 he located in Knox county, Ohio, where he followed his trade for fourteen years, when he removed with his family to Iowa and located on the farm which he now owns. While at blacksmithing in Ohio he ironed eighty-nine wagons, besides doing an immense amount of other work. On the 17th of May, 1840, Miss Rhoda Bybee became his wife. She was born in Barren county, Kentucky. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living: Uriah (born July 21, 1841, and died February 23, 1880), Isaiah (born September 21, 1843), Mary E. (born November 1, 1845, and died October 10, 1846), Sarah E. (born November 13, 1847), Byron (born December 11, 1849), David W. (born May 27, 1852), John L. (born April 28, 1854), Charles H. (born April 23, 1858) and Harvy G. (born May 13, 1864). Mr. Bair is prominent in all matters pertaining to the best interests of his township. He came to Iowa with but little, drawing out of the Mount Vernon Bank of Ohio the sum of $500, this being all of his capital, but before reaching Iowa found it to be almost worthless, only realizing about ten cents on the dollar therefore. He started a blacksmith shop under a shade tree, and in this way began his Iowa life, but by honest toil and industry and the united labors of his excellent wife and family he has secured a fine home of 360 acres of very choice land, well improved with good buildings and well stocked and the entire family enjoy the high esteem of all.

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BOYLE, THOMAS—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 5, P.O. Lytle City. Was born April 10, 1830, on Cooley Shore, Ireland. Emigrated with parents in 1835 to America, and located in Ross county, Ohio, lived there until 1847, and then enlisted as private in company K, Second Ohio infantry, and went to the Mexican War where he served one year. He received a land warrant from the government for 160 acres, and in 1849 located the same upon the quarter section, on which he now lives, and there at that early day as an incident of pioneer life he says that for three weeks he broke prairie, and in the same time never broke bread but lived on grated corn. February 4, 1857, he was married to Ann Carney, of Iowa county, who with her parents had emigrated from County Dublin, Ireland. By this marriage there were born eleven children, four of whom are still living: Bridget (born April 20, 1860),  Ann (born July 8, 1864), Josephine (born August 2, 1871) and Mary (born October 22, 1874). Mr. Boyle has almost continuously served his township as justice of the peace and in other official

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capacities. He is noted for public spiritedness and is an ever earnest worker in educational matters. He is a member of the National Association of Veterans, and carries a badge of the said association made from a piece of a brass cannon that was taken at Chepultepec Castle, two miles from the City of Mexico. He owns a farm 400 acres, well improved and stocked. His father and mother both lived with him till they died; his mother dying at the age of 72 and his father at the age of 93 years.

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BUTLER, EDMOND—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6, P.O. Lytle City. Born in County Tipperary, Ireland, September 10, 1820, lived there until February 1833, emigrated with his parents to America, and landed at New Orleans. Located at Louisville, Kentucky, and lived there until 1845, when he removed to this county, near the present site of Lytle City, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. Mr. Butler was one of the earliest settlers in Iowa county, having been here now over thirty-five years. Was married in Iowa City, to Margaret Gray, in February, 1851. She was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in the year 1822. To this family two children were born, both died in infancy. When Mr. Butler landed in Iowa, he owned a horse and $75 in money; he now has a fine farm of 280 acres, all well improved and stocked, and supplied with good houses, barns, etc. Mr. Butler and his worthy wife have secured their property by their united labor and industry, and richly deserve their comfortable home. Mr. Butler has served as township trustee for a quite number of years and enjoys the confidence and respect of all his neighbors. When he settled in Iowa county, the first house west was at Snook’s Grove, in Poweshiek county. The town site of Marengo was located after he came to Iowa, and the first court he attended was held at the old trading house, near the present site of South Amana.

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JOHNSON, A.G.—Farmer, Sec. 7, P.O. Lytle City. Was born in Bath, Grafton county, New Hampshire, December 16, 1819, lived there till thirteen years of age, then moved with his parents to Peoria county, Illinois, and lived there till he moved to his present home in Iowa, in the spring of 1856. Was married in Peoria county, Illinois, to H.C. Kellogg, October 18, 1848. By this union there were eleven children: Richard (born February 14, 1851, died in infancy), Emma (born July 21, 1852), Eva (born March 1, 1854), Elizabeth (born December 25, 1855), Rebecca (October 12, 1858), Thomas (born September 2, 1859), Sherman (born September 14, 1861), Albert (born December 16, 1863), Adda (born November 12, 1865), W.P. (born January 21, 1867) and Charles (born May 13, 1869). Mr. Johnson relates as an incident of pioneer life that while living in Peoria county, Illinois, he had to haul wheat 160 miles to Chicago, that being the nearest market. Has served his county and township one term as member of board of supervisors; justice of the peace sixteen years; almost continuously as a member of the school board; and as township trustee and township assessor for a number of terms. Mr. Johnson came to the State in an early day and settled in a sparsely inhabited neighborhood, but now lives in a well settled and prosperous community, where he has accumulated a competency and secured a desirable home. He is a man who enjoys the esteem and confidence of all his neighbors and has always been an earnest worker in educational matters.

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McCUNE, CARWICK—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Lytle City. Was born in County Fermanaugh, Ireland, in March, 1806, lived there forty years, then emigrated to America, located in Westchester

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county, New York, for three years, then moved to La Salle county, Illinois, and worked on railroad for a short time, then came to Iowa City, Iowa, thence to Louisiana for one winter and returned to Iowa City, where he lived until 1858 when he moved to Iowa county, where he has since resided engaged in farming.  He was married in Ireland, to Ellen Rooney, in 1834. She was born in 1817. There are six children: David (farmer in Troy township), Mary (married), John (farmer in Greene township), Margaret (married), Michael (attending school in Iowa City) and Ellen (learning dress-making). Mr. McCune had but two sovereigns when he landed in America; he now owns 346 acres of choice land, all improved and stocked, which they accumulated by the industry of Mr. McCune and family within a few years.

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MAULE, JOSIAH—Farmer, Sec. 19, P.O. Foote. Was born January 1, 1810, in Malmsburg, Wiltshire county, England. Lived in England till 1849. Then emigrated to America and settled in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Came to Iowa in 1855 and located on farm on which he now resides. Was married to Mary Burwood, of Bristol, England, at Parish Church of St. Philip and St. Jacob. She was born June 24, 1800. They have one son, Edward (born at Bristol, England, November 30, 1834). Was married June 17, 1860, to Emilda Moffit, of Greene township, Iowa county; she died September 7, 1879. By this marriage there were nine children: Elizabeth B. (born April 16, 1861), Mary S. (born January 15, 1863), Josiah J. born May 30, 1866), Charles (born March 18, 1868), Isaac (born March 24, 1870), Edward (born March 14, 1872), Daisy (born February 6, 1874), Ermilda (born August 3, 1876) and Thomas (born April 8, 1878). Edward enlisted in company I, Twenty-second Iowa infantry, August 11, 1862. Served with his regiment for three years, and was mustered out at Savannah, Georgia, at expiration of term. Has served as assessor and a member of school board, and is noted for his untiring labors in building up good schools in his neighborhood. Mr. Maule has one of the finest orchard in Iowa county.

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MOFFIT, JOHN—Farmer, Sec. 19, P. O. Foote. Born February 28, 1815, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Moved from there when five years of age, with his parents, and located in Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, and lived there twelve years. Then moved to Richland county, Ohio, and attended school in an old, unhewn log school-house with puncheon floor and seats, and greased paper for windows, and the teacher was the Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood. In 1853 moved to Iowa and lived in Scott county for about two years, and on February 27, 1855, he landed in Iowa county, on the farm where he now lives (1881), and which he entered from the government. On the 24th day of February, 1840, he was married to Eliza Berry, who was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1824; By this marriage they have twelve children living: James (born July 26, 1841), Henry (born September 4, 1842), Emilda (born July 27, 1844), Hugh (born April 26, 1846), William (born April 23, 1848), George (born August 16, 1850), Bruce (born October 1, 1852), Mary E. (born December 24, 1854), Artemus (born February 14, 1857), R. L. (born September 23, 1858), Margaret J. (born July 24, 1862), Edward E. (born May 8, 1864), Michael (born December 23, 1865), Alice C. (born February 6, 1868). Mr. Moffit, although of limited means when he arrived in this county, has by his industry, and the assistance of a noble family, secured a desirable home in which to pass his remaining days.

716HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
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MURPHY, JOHN R.—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 12, P.O. Windham. Was born in Cakersiveen, County Kerry, Ireland, April 8, 1827. Lived there until twenty years of age, then came to America and lived one year in Vermont and four years in Virginia, and in 1852 came to Illinois, remaining one year, thence to Cedar county, Iowa, where he lived for thirteen years engaged in farming, and August, 1865, located on the farm on which he now lives, and where he is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Was married, in Lynchburg, Virginia, on the 1st of May, 1850, to Mary Lee. She was born in Parish of Moore, Kerry county, Ireland, on November 11, 1831. There have been ten children born: Mary (born January 23, 1851, and died July 11, 1851), Johanna (born November 6, 1852), Margaret (born June 7, 1855), Mary (born May 23, 1858), Richard (born August 29, 1860), John (born January 6, 1863), Ellen (born September 7, 1865), Eugene (born February 22, 1868), William P. (born June 23, 1870), Ann (born December 6, 1873). The aged father and mother of Mr. Murphy came to Iowa with him and lived with him till their death, the father dying at the age of seventy-two and the mother at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Murphy has a choice farm of 195 acres, and is now comfortably fixed, with good buildings, and every necessary convenience, and all of it has been secured by the untiring industry and good management of Mr. Murphy and his family. He had a limited education, but by reading and observation, has taken a prominent place in society. On the farm where Mr. Murphy now lives still stands the old log cabin of Louis Yoakum, one of the first settlers in Greene township.

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SHERIDAN, BERNARD—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18, P.O. Lytle City. Born in County Meath, Ireland, in September, 1833. Remained there until eighteen years of age, then emigrated to America in 1855. Lived in Orleans county, New York, for about eight years, then came to Iowa county in 1863. He married Catherine Butler February 23, 1865. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, July 15, 1844. They have six children: Thomas (born February 22, 1870), Edmund (born March 27, 1872), Ann (born September 18, 1874), and Mary (born August 5, 1877). Mr. Sheridan has served as township trustee and member of school board. Mr. Sheridan came to America without means or friends to aid him, but by industry and economy he has accumulated a competency and owns one of the finest farms in Greene township of 240 acres. Mr. Sheridan is one of the solid men of the township and is a man of fine business ability.

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SPRATT, JACOB—Farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2, P. O. Windham. Was born in Philadelphia, May 1, 1837. Lived there until eight years of age. In 1845 his parents removed to this county. In April of the same year his father bought land and located on section 1, this township, where he lived till he died. He was married, January 25, 1863, to Mary Bradley. She was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, February 18, 1844. The family is composed of six children: William (born February 19, 1865), Susan (born April 18, 1867), Edward (born December 16, 1869), Mary (born October 8, 1872), James (born July 28, 1874), and Cornelius (born August 22, 1877). Mr. Spratt commenced working out by the month when only fifteen years of age, and so worked until he was nineteen, paying his wages to his father for the support of the family. He then began to work for himself, with just fifty cents, and eighteen miles from home, and continued to work for five years in a brick yard in summer, and in winter walked two

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miles and chopped cord wood at sixty cents per cord, and boarded himself. From this beginning he has, at the present time with the aid of his worthy wife, become the owner of 380 acres of choice land, well improved, and clear of incumbrance. In the first seven years of his farming, besides his other work, he broke 1,500 acres of prairie. He has been prominently identified with the interests of his township, and held various offices, and is entitled to the respect in which he is held by the community.